February 10, 2010 > City of Hayward City of Hayward February 2, 2010 Business Recognition Award for Feb. 2010 was presented to Alex Gamarra, owner of Acapulco Taqueria Restaurant, 310 W. A St. and 19950 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. Presentation Eric Figueroa, League of California Cities Regional Manager, updated Council on the League's efforts to place a measure on the Nov 2010 statewide ballot to protect local government funds and gas tax funds (earmarked for transportation and public transit) from state appropriation. The League belongs to Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services, a coalition working to gather more than 1.1 million signatures to qualify such a measure which, if approved by voters, would become the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act 2010. Consent Calendar Issued a proclamation supporting Census 2010. Added Indoor Water Use Efficiency Standards to Hayward Municipal Code. Prohibitions on Water Waste Activities and penalties and fines for violations added to Hayward Municipal Code. Mayor Michael Sweeney - Yes Kevin Dowling - Yes Barbara Halliday - Yes Olden Henson - Yes Anna Laveria May - Yes Bill Quirk - Yes Francisco Zermeno - Yes Public Comment Pastor Chuck Horner sought clarification over Councilor Bill Quirk's response to Dede Ligibel on Jan 26 when he denied having used the word "medical" during a Jan 19 discussion about marijuana. Quirk readily acknowledged his mistake and informed Horner that he had apologized to Ligibel as soon as he had realized the error. Doug Ligibel focused on public safety. Hayward now has more homicides in 2010 than San Francisco and San Jose, combined. San Jose has a population of a million and just one homicide. He referred to Dede Ligibel's and Jesse Garrett's (CommPre) explanations for medical marijuana finding its way into the hands of minors and attendant dangers. Some nearby high school students recently consumed what they thought were marijuana brownies but they were laced with narcotics. Most were taken to ER. Ligibel is unhappy with comments that marijuana is available in high schools and asked Quirk to send a letter of apology to Mt. Eden and Tennyson High Schools' principals to show solidarity and support. He encouraged Council to refer the issue of medical marijuana to the Police Department, if Council feels it is a problem. Brian Schott, Interim CEO and Executive Director, Hayward Chamber of Commerce, reported the success of the Chamber's Annual Gala on Jan 30 at CSUEB. Alameda County Sheriff Emeritus Charles C. Plummer, Ken Henderson, Irma Torres-Fitzsimmons, Gary Bisagno and Steven Miller were honored with the Chamber's Lifetime Achievement, Police Officer of the Year, Educator of the Year, Firefighter of the Year and Business Person of the Year Awards, respectively.